“The Buddy, Lewis and Clark Clinic”

At this year’s Stray Cat Strut, RMACA auctioned off first-year naming rights to the clinic during the live auction.  Long-time cat rescuer, Lori Freedman, won the bid and named the first year after her beloved cats Buddy, Lewis and Clark.  Although they are no longer with Lori, Buddy, Lewis and Clark are always in her heart …

“Bob and I lost Buddy almost ten years ago, but he will never be forgotten. It was because of my intense love for him that I started doing cat rescue. He died from an inoperable brain tumor at just 12 1/2 years old. All the money in the world wasn’t going to save my Buddy and it was then that I realized cats needed more than my money — they needed my time.

Buddy brought Clark home one evening when he was eight years old. He then took us to Lewis. The following four years with the three boys were some of our family’s best. After losing Buddy, Lewis and Clark were absolutely amazing in consoling Bob and I even though it was very evident they were also mourning.

Lewis and Clark were as different as night and day. Lewis was too intelligent for his own good and as obnoxious as they come. Clark was the sweetest and most gentle soul one could ever meet. Sadly we lost these boys just before their ninth birthday, only ten weeks apart.   That was four years ago this year.

If Buddy, Lewis and Clark were speaking to us now they’d say, ‘Let the clinic help you help the cats. Spay and neuter saves lives. Please, together we can stop euthanizing healthy animals. The cats and the community will thank you.’  Those boys were rock stars.”

– Lori Freedman